USA > Michigan > Montcalm County > History of Montcalm County, Michigan its people, industries and institutions...with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families Volume II > Part 20
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Stalham W. LaDu was born in the town of Fishkill, in Dutchess connty.
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New York, February 28, 1823, son of Jacob and Hannah ( Cure) LaDu, the former of Huguenot descent. Jacob LaDu was born on January 3, 1780, son of Oliver and Sarah ( Coniff) LaDu, Oliver LaDu, born on August 23, 1726, having been the son of Peter C. and Ann LaDu. Several lines of descent from Peter C. LaDu are represented in this country, some of the present members of the family spelling the name "LaDue." On coming to America to escape religious persecution, the LaDus settled first in lower Canada and later located in Dutchess county, New York, where the subject of this sketch was born. When Stalham W. LaDu was thirteen years old he moved with his family to Clarkston, in Richland county, New York, and three years later to Wayne county, same state, where he remained about five years. At the age of nineteen he was converted to an ardent religious habit of mind at a Methodist revival and was soon thereafter licensed to exhort, immediately entering upon a course of study in prepara- tion to devoting himself to the ministry of the Gospel, a course pursued partly by home study, under the guidance of a minister of the Methodist church, which he supplemented by a two-years course at Red Creek Union Academy. At the age of twenty-two, out of funds, he and a companion went to Canada, where, in Northumberland county, he engaged his services as a school teacher. During this term of service he also preached in the school house on Sundays, and it was there he obtained the first of the great number of converts that were added to him during his later and notable career as an evangelist. He followed the same course in other localities in Canada, with like results, for several years and finally decided to enter definitely the following of the ministry. In 1845 the Rev. Stalham W. LaDu formally entered the ministry and, under the direction of the Meth- odist conference, began conducting revivals, invariably meeting with splen- did success, presently becoming a man of commanding influence in the Methodist church in Canada. He was one of the founders of Albert Uni- versity, at Belleville, Ontario, and served as a member of the board of managers of that institution until he came to Michigan and was also for four years presiding elder of the Colburn district in Canada.
In 1867 the Rev. Stalham W. LaDu came to Michigan and for some time was stationed at Calumet, in the upper peninsula. Later he was sent to western Wisconsin and after a while was sent back to Canada, where he was made presiding elder of the St. Lawrence district. His health then failing under the incessant strain of his active labors, he presently retired from the ministry, and in 1874 returned to Michigan and made his home in
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Coral, this county, which ever afterward was his place of abode. Working in the lumber woods thereabout and actively engaging in farming, Mr. LaDu shortly regained his health and at once became an active figure in local affairs, his influence speedily extending to all parts of the state. His interest in political affairs and his devotion to the cause of good govern- ment caused him to take an active part in civic affairs, and he became a familiar figure in political conventions in county, district and state. He was elected to represent this district in the lower house of the state Legis- lature and served for two terms, 1881-84, his conspicuous abilities easily giving him a prominent position in that body. He was prominently men- tioned as a candidate for governor at one time and his friends could have obtained for him the nomination for the office of lieutenant-governor at another time, but he withdrew his name in the latter instance in order that he might be free to accept the more lucrative position of state oil inspector. which office he held for two years with credit both to himself and to the state. During the last quarter century of his life, Mr. LaDu devoted his energies chiefly to church and good works in and about Coral and at his death there, on October 3, 1910, left a good memory.
The Rev. Stalham W. LaDn married Clarissa M. Gaffield, a native of Canada, many of whose kinsfolk are well-known residents of this county, including Wesley J. Gaffield, former sheriff of Montcalm county, and Ben- jamin I. Gaffield, former county treasurer, and to this union three children were born, Mrs. Hannah Minore, George Jacob LaDu and Mrs. Ella Bibby.
George Jacob LaDu, a well-known resident of this county, was born in 1850, and .was never any other than an American citizen, because his father was AAmerican born and ever remained a citizen of the United States, notwithstanding his long residence in Canada. Upon the removal of the LaDu family to this county in 1874. George J. LaDu became a resident of the Coral neighborhood and has lived there most of the time since. In the spring of 1883 he went to Manitoba and remained there about eleven years, engaged in farming, after which he took a position in the hospital for the insane in that province and was thus engaged for four years. He then returned to Michigan and was appointed supervisor of the upper peninsula hospital for the insane, a position he held until he was compelled to retire on account of injuries received at the hands of an inmate about 1898. Mr. LaDu has since then resided on his farm near Coral, this county, and is regarded as one of the most substantial citizens thereabout. He married Catherine Minore, who was born in Ottawa. Canada. daughter of William
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and Elizabeth ( Walkley) Minore, the latter of whom was the daughter of Enoch Walkley, who owned a portion of the land on which the city of Ottawa now stands. To this union eight children were born, of whom four died in infancy and Fred H. was killed by the cars while working as a brakeman for the Pere Marquette railroad, at Plymouth, April 27, 1910, the surviving children being Charles Walkley, editor of the Crystal Mail. at. Crystal, this county, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume; William Lorne and J. Harry.
CLARK J. DRUMMOND.
Having been a resident of this county for over half a century, Clark J. Drummond has acquired a wide acquaintance throughout this section, and after a long period of service in the postoffice at Greenville, this county, he is now living retired from active business affairs.
Clark J. Drummond was born on October 16. 1849, at Bombay, Frank- lin county, New York, a son of J. B. and Isabella ( Deans) Drummond, the former of whom was a native of New York state, and the latter a native of Scotland.
The father of J. B. Drummond was born in England and emigrated to America at an early date and settled in St. Lawrence county, New York, near the Franklin county line. There J. B. Drummond grew to manhood and seenred an excellent education for that day. He was married in St. Lawrence county to Isabella Deans, who was born in Scotland and who came to America with her parents when she was four years of age. The Deans family also located in St. Lawrence county, New York. J. B. Drim- mond became a minister in the Baptist church and for several years worked zealously in that calling. when. on account of failing health, he resigned from the ministry and took up the study of medicine at Albany, New York. Doctor Drummond entered upon the practice of his profession at Hartford, Washington county. New York, and also practiced at several other towns in that vicinity. In 1863 Doctor Drummond removed. to Clarkston, Oak- land county. Michigan, and was located there for one year. He then brought his family to Greenville, this county, and was here actively engaged until about four years before his death, in 1876.
J. B. Drummond was a highly respected and influential man in his
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day. He took a great deal of interest in religious affairs and built the Baptist church in Greenville. He was one of the prime movers in holding a big revival in Greenville in 1865, the influence of which was long felt in this community. Mrs. Isabella ( Deans) Drummond died in 1894.
J. B. and Isabella ( Deans) Drummond were the parents of nine chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity, and five are now living: Eliza, widow of Rufus Waller; Anna, wife of Rev. D. E. Hills, both being now deceased; Cornelia, wife of Charles Kyle, both are now deceased; Cynthia. wife of Daniel Wilcox, both are now deceased; Hattie T., widow of Rastus Reed; Maggie D., widow of Newell J. Moore, lives in Albion, Michigan; Lottie, deceased, was the wife of Bernard J. Growve, and lived in Detroit, Michi- gan; Clark J., the subject of this sketch, and Alvin A., who lives in Spring- field, Missouri.
Clark J. Drummond acquired such educational training as was avail- able in the schools of his native county, and lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years old. He was married on July 2, 1874. to Emma Day, a daughter of D. W. and Esther ( Day) Day, the latter of whom was born near Erie. Pennsylvania.
Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Day were the parents of four children, namely : Julia, deceased, was the wife of Francis Beldig: Oscar lives in Bekdling. Michigan; Loren, deceased, lived in Granville. Michigan; Emma is the wife of Clark J. Drummond.
Mr. Drummond was engaged in the himber business as a salesman for about twenty years, representing one of the numerous companies of Michi- gan when the lumber business in this state was in its prime. In 1898 Mr. Drummond was appointed postmaster of Greenville, and served efficiently in that capacity until 1006. After that date he was retained in the office by his successor as deputy postmaster for seven years, until 1913. Since the close of his service in the postoffice Mr. Drummond has lived retired in his home at Greenville, this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark J. Drummond adopted a child, Irma Harris, when she was three years old. and she now is the wife of Bert Van Norman. They live in Detroit. and have one child. Louise.
Clark J. Drummond is a Republican, and although he is a stanch party man he is ever ready to aid in every movement that will be of benefit to the community. He is a member of Greenville Lodge No. 96. Free and Accepted Masons, and Chapter No. 96. Royal Arch Masons. Mr. Drummond is a charter member of Leroy Lodge No. 9. Knights of Pythias.
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CHARLES SWARTHOUT.
Charles Swarthout, well-known retired farmer and prominent citizen of Crystal. Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Wayne township, Steuben county, New York. February 21, 1841, a son of Ralph and Sally ( Beach ) Swarthout.
Following his education, received in the public schools of his native county, Charles Swarthout worked on the home farm until 1861. when he enlisted in Company .A. Sixteenth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infan- try, a command with which he served his enlistment period of three months, during this time participating in the first battle of Bull Run. About one month after the expiration of his first enlistment, Charles Swarthout again enlisted for service in the Civil War. this time with Company I, Eighty- fifth Regiment. New York Volunteer Infantry, and while serving in this command Mr. Swarthout took part in the Peninsular campaign. with Gen- eral Mcclellan, including the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Mechanics- ville, and the seven days' fight in the retreat from in front of Richmond and Harrison's Landing. In the battle of Malvern Hill, Charles Swart- hout was severely wounded. as a result of which he was discharged in January. 1863. About one month after his discharge from military service, Mr. Swarthout returned to Steuben county, New York, where he remained one year and then came to the state of Michigan, locating at Muir, Ionia county, where he engaged in his trade as a carpenter. In the year 1879 Mr. Swarthout purchased one hundred acres of timber land on the north shore of Crystal lake, in Montcalm county, land which, after years of hard work, he cleared and cultivated as a general farmer until 1896, when he sold his farm and moved to the town of Crystal, where he has since lived a retired life, with the exception of five years, when he was a rural mail car- rier from the Crystal postoffice.
During the autumn of the year 1863 Charles Swarthout was married to Julia Churchill, who was born in Tyrone township. Steuben county, New York. a daughter of Joseph and Abigail Churchill. To the marriage of Charles and julia Swarthout were born three children: Clarence and Edwin, who live in Ferris township. Montcalm county, and Fannie, who is the wife of C. IT. Braman. living on the north shore of Lake Crystal.
On August 4. 1885. Julia, the wife of Charles Swarthout. died, and about four years later, on March 14. 1889. Mr. Swarthout was married. secondly. to May Clark, who was born at Brownstown, Monroe county, Michigan, a daughter of Lorenzo and Elizabeth ( Brake) Clark.
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Lorenzo C. Clark was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. June 18. 1839, a son of Watson D. and Elizabeth ( Trace) Clark, both of whom were born in the state of Pennsylvania, the former of English descent, the latter of German ancestry, they living in Monroe county, Michigan, from 1819 to 1876, with the exception of four years in Wayne county, New York. Lorenzo C. Clark, on February 4, 1861, enlisted in Company E, Sixth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Civil War until August 20, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. During the year 1876 Mr. Clark moved to Gratiot county. Michigan, and settled on a farm in section 5. of North Star township, later in life moving to North Star, where he died in 1912. Mrs. Clark, the widow of Lorenzo Clark, now lives at North Star. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Clark was Elizabeth N. Brake. a daughter of David and Marietta ( Baker) Brake.
Mr. and Mrs. Swarthout and their son, Kenneth Carleton, who was born on March 15, 1903, are active members and supporters of the Con- gregational church, at Crystal, and are among the respected and appre- ciated workers of this congregation. Charles Swarthout, since the year 1868. has been a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in Montcalm county.
As a citizen. Mr. Swarthout served as a supervisor of Crystal town- ship for five years. During the time of his active life on the farm and since retiring to the more quiet walks of life he has given freely of his influence and support for the promotion of the various helpful movements of the community.
JOHN B. STRAIT.
John B. Strait. well-known and highly-respected retired farmer. living at Crystal, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Defiance county, Ohio, June 17, 1844, a son of Reuben and Mary .( Resler) Strait, the former born in Manchester, Vermont. April 5. 1810, a son of George Strait and wife: the latter born in Logansport, Pennsylvania, from where she moved with her parents to Defiance county, Ohio, at which place she was married.
Reuben Strait was a man of various pursuits, having been a canal boatman. managed a hotel, conducted a grocery and operated a veneer- mill. The elder Strait spent the greater part of his mature life at Defiance, Ohio, where he died in 1857. at the age of forty-seven, survived by his wife and two children. Roxey and John B .. the latter being thirteen years of age
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at the time of the death of his father. Following the death of her hus- band, Mrs. Strait was married, secondly, in October, 1864, to Grafton Reed, they. after their marriage moving to Ferris township, Montcalm county, Michigan, where they spent their last days.
John B. Strait, while yet quite young, enlisted for service in the Civil War, with Company II. Thirty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but on account of physical disability was mustered out of the service a year afterward. During the month of February, 1863, Mr. Strait again enlisted for service, this time with Company D, Tenth Ohio Cavalry, a command with which he served as a part of the army of General Sherman on his march to the sea. At Bailey's Cross Roads, North Carolina, in February, 1865. John B. Strait was captured as a prisoner of war and taken to Salis- bury prison. in North Carolina, later being moved to Danville, and from there to Libby prison. He was suffering from a gun-shot through the body and arm, both wounds the result of the same bullet. With the character- istic neglect of the notorious Libby prison. John R. Strait received no medi- cal attention. being compelled to do with dressing of his wounds which had been applied by a farmer's wife at her home. the sole attention which Mr. Strait received in this prison having been two doses of medicine. The prison authorities said that he would be dead before morning. but John B. Strait rallied from his wounds and suffered the hardships and privations of the rebel prison until April 3. 1865, when he was transferred to a field hospital of the Union army. In June, of the same year, he rejoined his regi- ment, and served for the remainder of the war, being discharged on July 6. 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio.
Following his discharge from military service. John B. Strait came to Ferris township, Montcalm county. Michigan, and became a farmer on forty acres of land, living at this place until 1871. when, with his family, Mr. Strait moved to Blackhawk county. lowa. and farmed there for nine years. He then returned to Ferris township. Montcalm county, Michigan, and with the proceeds from the sale of his Jowa land. purchased a farm located in the northern part of Crystal township. this county, where his son. William, now lives. On his farm in Crystal township, John B. Strait lived until 1902, when he sold his land to his son. William, and moved to. Crystal, where he now lives a retired life.
On March 4. 1866. John B. Strait was married to Catherine Johnson, who was born in Fulton county, Ohio, a daughter of John B. and Elizabeth ( Freeze) Johnson, natives of Virginia and of Ohio, respectively. Mr. and
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Mrs. Johnson lived in Fulton county. Ohio, until October, 1864, when they moved to Ferris township, Montcalm county, where John B. Johnson engaged in farming and in the operation of a blacksmith shop for the remainder of his days. To the marriage of John B. and Catherine Strait have been born eight children: George, who raises peaches and berries on forty acres of land along the southeast shore of Crystal lake; Victoria, who died in 1910, she having been the wife of Charles Groom; Brittomart, who died at the age of eight years; William. a farmer of Crystal township; Mary, who died in 1893. the wife of Oren Myers; Milo, a farmer living two miles south of Ferris Center, in Ferris township, this county; Eliza- beth, the wife of Allen Page, of Crystal. and John B., who lives at Rose- bush. Isabella county, Michigan.
John B. Strait, during the time that the Grand Army of the Republic post existed at Crystal. was an active member, having taken an important part in the work and in the efforts of this organization. Mr. Strait and his family are among the honored and esteemed people of this community, they having a host of friends and admirers.
RAYBURN B. SMITH, M. D.
Dr. Rayburn B. Smith, president of the State Bank of Crystal and the only practicing physician and surgeon at Crystal, this county, is a native of the "Sunflower" state, having been born in a sod dugout near the town of Stockton, on the plains of Brooks county, Kansas, on July 18, 1881, son of Benjamin F. and Lillian J. ( Adams) Smith, who at that time were "proving np" a claim on the prairie, during which time, for three years, they lived in a sod shanty, experiencing all the discomforts and hardships of the pioneers.
Benjamin Franklin Smith was born at Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, Ohio, February 10, 1848, son of Benjamin and Hannah (Byers) Smith, who were born and reared and married in York county. Pennsylvania. and who, after their marriage, moved to Trumbull county, Ohio, where they established a home and where they spent the remainder of their lives. B. F. Smith grew up on the paternal farm in Ohio and followed farming until he was twenty-two years of age, after which, for a little more than six years, he was engaged in the hotel business at Garrettsville, Ohio. In the meantime he had married and in the summer of 1879 went to Kansas
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with his bride and entered a claim to a tract of government land in Brooks county, that state, and while "proving up" the same lived in a sod dugout. In the fall of 1881 they returned to Ohio and for a few years Mr. Smith was engaged in farming in the neighborhood of his old home at Mesopo- tamia. In March, 1890, he came to Montcalm county and located at Crys- tal, where for about three years he was engaged in running a summer resort and boat business on Crystal lake. In 1893 he built the Lakeside House and there has conducted a summer hotel ever since. ITis hotel accommo- dates more than eighty guests and does a fine business during the summers. Mr. Smith has taken a warm interest in general affairs hereabout since coming to this county and for several years served on the school board.
On June 23, 1879. Benjamin F. Smith was united in marriage to Lillian J. Adams, who was born in Nelson, Ohio, daughter of Oliver J. and Nancy (Peterman ) Adams, the former a native of that state and the latter of Wisconsin, and to this union six children have been born, of whom two died in infancy, the others being as follow: Jessie, who was born in Brooks county, Kansas, married G. V. Wright, of Alma, this state, and has three children. Esther Lillian. Rollo and Norman S .; Ethel, born at Mesopo- tamia. Ohio, widow of Martin S. Lewis, lives at Crystal and has one son, Phil C .: Ida, also born at Mesopotamia, who is the wife of Charles S. Dougherty and lives at Warren, Ohio, and Dr. Rayburn B., the immediate subject of this sketch.
Rayburn B. Smith was but six weeks of age when his parents left Kansas, where he was born, and returned to Ohio. The first eight years of his life were spent on the farm in Trumbull county and he then came with his parents to this county, where he grew to manhood and where he has lived ever since. Upon completing the course at that time prescribed in the Crystal high school he taught school for a year, at the end of which time he entered Saginaw Valley Medical College, from which excellent institu- tion he was graduated on May 4. 1903, and at once entered upon the prac- tice of his profession in Crystal, where he ever since has been located, with the exception of the time he spent in Chicago taking a post-graduate course in the Northern Illinois College of Ophthalmogy and Otology. He has been health officer for Crystal township for the past eight or ten years and is a member of the Montcalm County Medical Society and the Michigan State Medical Society, in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes a warm interest. Doctor Smith also has taken an active interest in general affairs hereabout and when the State Bank of Crystal was organized he was
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elected president of that institution. a position which he has ever since held. Doctor Smith is a member of the Masonic order and takes a prominent part in the activities of the local lodge of that order.
On September 17. 1907. Dr. Rayburn B. Smith was united in marriage to Inez Reynolds, who was born at Mesopotamia. Trumbull county, Ohio, daughter of Job and Altha ( Lewis) Reynolds, both natives of that county, and to this union two children have been born, Reynolds C. and Marian J.
Job Reynolds was born on September 6, 1837, son of Job and Betsey ( Arnold) Reynolds, who were married in Connecticut and immigrated to Ohio, settling in Trumbull county at an early day in the settlement of that section and there established a home in the woods. eventually developing a fine farm of about three hundred acres, and there the junior Job Reynolds was born and grew to manhood. He married Altha Lewis, daughter of Silas and Silana ( Hathaway) Lewis, natives of Massachusetts and pioneers of Trumbull county, Ohio. Job Reynolds. Jr., lived on the farm on which he was born until in September. 1887, at which time he moved to the village of Mesopotamia. where he ever since lived and for many years has been engaged in the live-stock business. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having served for one year and six months from the time of his enlistment, on September 1, 1861. in the Second Ohio Cavalry. engaged in the campaign in Missouri. Arkansas and the South, and was discharged on a physician's certificate of disability.
WARREN G. GRISWOLD.
Warren G. Griswold, a veteran of the Civil War and a prosperous retired farmer, now living in comfort at his pleasant home in the village of Crystal, this county, is a native-born son of Michigan, having been born at Novi, in Oakland county, this state, February 22, 1849, son of Warren B. and Phoebe Ann ( Hoh ) Griswold, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York state, who. in the early fifties, moved from Oak- land county to lonia county, where Warren B. Griswold traded a yoke of cattle for twenty acres of land and proceeded to make a new home in the forest wilderness, and there he spent the rest of his life, his death occur- ring in 1874. His wife died in 1861, their son, Warren G., the subject of this sketch. then being twelve years of age.
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